4/22/2010 @ 3:40PM

The NFL Draft: ESPN Vs. NFL Network

The draft lords sure make it tough, don’t they? The NFL Draft, sport’s ultimate awards show (no offense, ESPYs), will once again be broadcast on two networks–ESPN and NFL Network. Which to watch, you may be asking. The old stalwart or young start-up?

Depending on your cable package, that question may be more irrelevant than the draft’s last pick, but the rest of us need some incentive from these television powerhouses if they hope to earn our full Nielsen. So I’ve sifted through the highlights of each network’s coverage in hopes of aiding your decision. We’ll start with the top five reasons to watch ESPN’s coverage and, in the spirit of equal time, finish with the top five reasons to watch the NFL Network.

Without further ado

ESPN

A cast of thousands: If you thought the number of players elected to the Pro Bowl this year was high, wait until you see the number of former players and coaches in NFL history involved in ESPN’s mega-draft coverage. Jon Gruden, Cris Carter, Keyshawn Johnson, Tedy Bruschi, Steve Young, Trent Dilfer, the list goes on and on. Honestly, I’m getting carpal tunnel just thinking of the prospect of typing all the names, so you’ll have to tune in for more. How’s that for incentive?

Ode to John King: For political junkies like me, there’s only one person synonymous with the perceptive pixel touch screen, and that’s “map guy” John King of CNN. The technology is ultra-cool and ESPN’s own draft hipster, Todd McShay, will be playing with his touchy screen all weekend long.

Big, inspiring lights: ESPN’s biggest coup may have been securing the rights to Empire State of Mind , the Jay Z/Alicia Keys ditty that seems to be universally liked–even by those with the worst case of Manhattan Jealousy Syndrome.

Red Carpet delight: As if the NFL needed more glitz and glamour, ESPN (and NFL Network) is rolling out a red carpet on Thursday. While I doubt Jay Z or Alicia Keys will make an appearance, it will be most interesting to see whether Ndamukong Suh opts for Dolce and Gabbana or Calvin Klein. No, actually it won’t. I appreciate the female marketing, but a red carpet at the NFL draft makes as much sense as Spirit Airlines charging for carry-on luggage. Guys don’t like red carpets. Girls only care about dresses on the red carpet. Hope you bring it, Suzy Kolber!

Fishy motives? Who doesn’t love a little draft guru controversy? One ridiculous article I read recently (which I refuse to link to) insinuated Mel Kiper taps Jimmy Clausen as the best QB in draft only because he’s good friends with Clausen’s agent, Gary Wichard. On a similar note, Todd McShay apparently has Sam Bradford as No. 1 because McShay and Bradford are both represented by behemoth agency CAA, not because McShay agrees with the other 90% of NFL analysts who list Bradford as No. 1. The dissecting of Kiper and McShay by non-ESPN media is always entertaining, if not sad.

NFL NETWORK

Get ready for some Prime Time: As in dual-meaning “Prime Time.” In one corner you have the bejeweled, slick-talking former cornerback and current mentor Deion Sanders (aka Prime Time). In the other corner you have a new look draft with a 7:30 p.m. ET start, a time that so embodies “Prime Time” the league seems to have mandated the term’s use in every promo. These sides are the perfect recipe for what I imagine will be some pretty nifty (and corny) phraseology on the NFL Network set.

Draft MVPs revealed: NFL Network has been hyping a little survey they’ve conducted where fans get to choose the 75 Most Valuable Draft Picks of all-time. While it’s admittedly a bit confusing, I assume the idea is to weigh whether Joe Montana in the third round was a better steal than Tom Brady in the sixth. The confusion lies when you see players on the list like Tony Gonzalez taken as the 13th pick in the draft or Troy Aikman as No. 1 overall. Not sure I’d exactly put them in the “steal” category. On the surface, the contest seems forced (and a bit desperate), but somehow I expect to get fully wrapped in the hoopla.

Loving Lombardi: If one person can legitimize a network, then the NFL Network’s legitimizer is Michael Lombardi. He’s an NFL savant–there’s really no better way to say it. He mixes a delicious career cocktail as a scout, player personnel director, media pundit and probably other assorted NFL jobs that aren’t as known, but add to his knowledge base. Ask him anything and he knows it, and he’s not professorial in his commentary (no offense to the fantastic John Clayton).

Whos the Touch? Sure, ESPN has the rights to Empire State of Mind but the NFL has the rights to the NFL-owned and NFL-produced spot for NFL apparel starring Alyssa Milano. If you haven’t seen her ad, you don’t watch NFL Network. Trust me. But I’m not so much in love with the ad as I am curious about its intentions. I’ve probably seen it upward of 50 times and still can’t figure out if it’s being marketed to men or women. It’s an interesting interweaving of tight-jean-wearing-hair-flicking-back-in-slo-mo Milano with rabid football fan Milano cheering on her favorite NFL team. I’d say men, but do men ever buy anything for women without ample reminders of pending special occasions? Just in case you don’t get NFL Network or will be opting for Berman and company, check it out here and let me know your thoughts.

On a divisive note: No Chris Berman. Sorry, had to say it.

Who will you be watching? Same network all along? A little remote controlling? And will you be watching that curious red carpet show?

Melissa Jacobs is the founder and editor of thefootballgirl.com, a site devoted to making the NFL more accessible to women. She is an Emmy-Award winning former ESPN producer and five-time fantasy football champion. For even more breakdown of the hype and intrigue surrounding all things football, visit thefootballgirl.com or follow her on Twitter @thefootballgirl.

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